Wick moistening means for duplicating machines



Feb. 19, 1952 R. M. FORD EI'AL WICK MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1949 i lbiilunlnirlv INVENTORS.

Feb.19, 1952 R. M. ORD ETAL 2,586,461

WICK MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pisa.

Ani Feb; 19, 1952 WICK MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING- MACHINES Filed May 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS:

R. M. FORD ETl" AL Feb. 19, 1952 WICK MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Shget 4 Filed May 25, 1949 III) I w Il I I! awn INVENTORS Arty:

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 WICK MOISTENING MEANS FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Ronald Max Ford and Denis Percy Crane, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, England; said Crane assignor to Frank R. Ford Limited, Birmingham, England, a British company Application May 25, 1949, Serial No. 95,202 In Great Britain May 31, 1948 8 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating machines of the kind in which a copy sheet and a master sheet bearing in reverse script the matter to be reproduced are passed in pressure contact between a cylinder to which the master sheet is clamped and a pressure roller, the copy sheet being moistened before being brought into contact with the master sheet. In such machines the cylinder is usually mounted upon a spindle which is supported in bearings carried by two spaced side frame members forming the body of the machine.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved moistening means for the copy sheets.

According to the present invention the moistening means for a machine of the kind specified comprises an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of a body pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder, the pad having a portion which normally rests upon a wick which is constantly supplied with moistening liquid, and the pad also having a portion which normally rests against the periphery of a moistening roller which, imparts a film of liquid to the copy sheet which is inserted between this moistening roller and a supporting roller.

Preferably the Wick-contacting surface of the pad and the roller-contacting surface of the pad are situated both on the same side of the pivot of the hollow body, so that the weight of the hollow body and the pad tends to keep the pad in light pressure contact with the wick and with the moistening roller. The wick-contacting surface of the pad and the roller-contacting surface of the pad may be set at an obtuse angle to each other, the wick-contacting surfacebeing approximately horizontal and the roller-contacting surface being disposed so that contact is formed between the pad and a portion of the upper surface of ,the roller, this portion being steeply inclined to the vertical.

Referring to the drawings, which show the parts of a duplicating machine:

Figure 1 is a side view showing the two-part cam arrangement;

Figure 2 is an end view in section;

Figure 3 is a section in side elevation;

Figure 4 is a detail view of the wick and liquid supp y;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail view of the moistenersupporting means and Figure 7 is a detail view of the moistener body and pad.

The drawings show the moistening means for a duplicating machine having a master sheet cylinder l0 supported rotatably between side frames II and a pressure roller l2.

The moistener body, generally shown at l3 in Figure 3 and in detail in Figure 7, comprises an outer sheet metal-body I4 inside which is held a thin sheet former l5 carrying a velvet pad l6.

The moistener body I4 carrying the pad 16 is supported at one end of a pin l l which can be oscillated by suitable means, the moistener body having a tubular part l8 which has a separable driving connection with the pin I! by means of a slotted head l9 engaged by the head 20 which has a driving pin 2|, and the pin I! being mounted in one of the sideframes of the machine. The opposite end of the moistener body is supported on the conical end of a pin 22 mounted in the other side frame II, this pin 22 being withdrawable by hand against pressure of spring 23, thus permitting. the moistener body carrying the pad to be removed when required.

Oscillating movement is imparted to the moistener body by providing a cam on the cylinder shaft, or on a separate cam shaft, and a mechanical connection from this cam to the pin supporting one end of the body, and. such a cam may be adjustable so that the moistener body can be rocked away from the wick and the moistening roller once each revolution for a period which can be adjusted.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 this is provided by means of a two-part adjustable cam having separate profiles 24 and 25, the profile 25 being mounted on the shaft 26 of the cylinder I0 and profile 24 bein fixed to a sleeve 21 which is slidable and rotatable on extension 28 of the spindle 26. A spring 29 acting between a collar 30 on extension 28 and the side of profile 24 normally keeps profile 24 hard against profile 25 to give the combined cam as seen in Figure 1.

A pin 3! fixed to profile 24 engages a series of spaced holes in profile 25 to give a series of cam values and lock the two profiles against relative rotation in any desired position.

As seen in Figure l, a roller 32 on the end of a lever 33, pivoted at 34 to the side frame H, engages the two-part cam, the lever being spring urged by a spring 35 and being connected by a link 36 to the end of an arm 31 fixed on the pin l'l.

Adjusting means 38 and 39 are provided for varying the effective length of link 36.

The wick 40 has one portion immersed in moistening liquid which is circulated through a tube 4!, one edge of the wick projecting into the tube 40 through a longitudinal slot 42 therein, and the opposite edge of the wick may be bent into an approximately horizontal position and may serve as a support, or it may partially support the moistener body which carries the moistening pad.

The liquid circulation in the tube 4i is maintained by means of a pump 42 connected in a pipeline 43 from a tank 44, the pump 42 supplying liquid through a regulating valve 45 to a hollow body 46 in which one end of the slotted tube 4! is mounted, and the liquid passing along the tube 4|, which is horizontal, to another hollow body 41 at the opposite end, from which there is a return pipe 48 to the tank 44.

In the end of the tube 4| to which the liquid is fed we provide a perforated disc 49 extending transversely across the tube and serving to prezlent the flooding of the wick at this end of the As seen in Figure 3, the pad (6 on the moistener body is flexible and at one part is pressed to part-cylindrical form against the surface of the metal moistening roller 50 mounted on the spindle i The other part of the pad is pressed against the wick 40.

Referring to Figure 7, if desired a blanking-out sheet 5| may be inserted in the moistener body to reduce the efiective moistening width of the pad.

The copy sheets are fed into the machine under the moistening roller 50 and between it and a supporting roller 52 placed immediately below, and this supporting roller 52 is preferably positively driven by a chain 53 or other drive from the usual pressure roller l2.

A pad 5 is also provided to take any excess liquid from the roller 50, the pad 5 being disposed between the roller 50 and a guard 54.

What we claim is:

i. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified including a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a moistener body pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder; an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of the moistener body; cam means for periodically oscillating the moistener body about its pivotal axis: a wick; means for providing a constant supply of liquid to the wick; a moistening roller for imparting a film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a portion which normally rests against the periphery of the moistening roller; and a supporting roller cooperating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

2. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified including a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a moistener body pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder; an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of the moistener body; a cam mounted on the shaft of the master sheet cylinder; an arm fixed to the pivotal axis of the moistener body; mechanism for causing said cam to oscillate said arm once during each revolution of the cylinder; a wick; means for providing a constant supply of liquid to the wick; a moistening roller for imparting a film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a portion which normally rests against the periphery of the moistening roller; and a supporting roller cooperating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

3. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified including a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a moistener body pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder; an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of the moistener body; a two-part cam mounted on the shaft of the master sheet cylinder; means for adjusting the parts of said cam relative to each other to provide a series of different cam profiles; a lever pivoted on one side frame member; a roller on one end of said lever in spring-pressed engagement with said cam; an adjustable link attached to the other end of said lever; an arm fixed to the pivotal axis of the moistener body engaged by said adjustable link; a wick; means for providing a constant supply of liquid to the wick; a moistening roller for imparting a film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a portion which normally rests against the. periphery of the moistening roller; and a supporting roller cooperating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

4. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified includin a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a moistener body pivoted on an axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder; an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of the moistener body; cam means for periodically oscillating the moistener body about its pivotal axis, said cam means consisting of a pair of cam plates mounted side by side on the spindle of the master sheet cylinder; spring means normally holding said cam plates in contact; means for rotating said plates relatively to each other; means for locking said plates together in a, plurality of different positions; a wick; means for providing a constant supply of liquid to the wick; a moistening roller for imparting a film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a, portion which normally rests against the periphery of the moistening roller; and a supporting roller cooperating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

5. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified including a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a moistener body movably mounted within the frame of the machine an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of the moistener body; a wick fixedly mounted within the frame of the machine means for providing a continuous supply of liquid to the wick; a moistening roller for imparting a film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a portion which normally rests against the periphery of the moistening roller; a member rotating with the master cylinder, mechanism operatively connected between said member and said moistener body to cause the body to move towards and away from the moistener roller once during each revolution of the master cylinder,

7 and a supporting roller cooperating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

6. In a duplicating machine of the kind specifled-including a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a moistener body movably mounted within the frame of the machine an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of the moistener body; a wick fixedly mounted within the frame of the machine means for providing a continuous supply of liquid to the wick; a moistening roller for imparting a film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a portion which normally rests against the periphery of the moistening roller; said portions being disposed at an obtuse angle to each other and both being situate on the same side of the pivotal axis of the moistener body; a member rotating with the master cylinder, mechanism operatively connected between said member and said moistener body to cause the body to move towards and away from the moistener rollerv once during each revolution of the master cylinder, and a supporting roller cooperating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

7. In a duplicating machine of the kind specifled including a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprisin an outer sheet metal moistener body; a thin sheet former disposed therein; an absorbent pad mounted on said former, part of the body being of tubular formation and supported on a pivotal axis parallel to the axis of the cylinder; a pin mounted in one side frame member having a separable connection with one end of said tubular part; a spring-loaded pinmounted slidably in the other side frame member for supporting the other end of said tubular part; a wick fixedly mounted within the frame of the machine means for providing a continuous supply of liquid to the wick; a moistening roller for imparting a film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a portion which normally rests against the periphery of the moistening roller; a member rotating with the master cylinder, mechanism operatively connected between said member and said moistener body to cause the body to move towards and away from the moistener ro11er'.once during each revolution of the master cylinder, and a supporting roller cooperating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

8. In a duplicating machine of the kind specified'inoluding a master sheet cylinder supported for rotation between side frame members, moistening means for the copy sheets comprising a moistener body movably mounted within the frame of the machine an absorbent pad carried on the exterior of the moistener body; a tube fixedly mounted between the side frame members and having longitudinal slot therein; a wick projecting through said slot; 2. supply tank for moistening liquid; pump means and regulating valve means for providing a continuous supply of liquid to one end of said tube; a moistening roller for imparting a, film of liquid to the copy sheet, said pad having a portion which normally rests upon the wick and a portion which normally rests against the periphery of the moistening roller, a member rotating with the master cylinder, mechanism operatively connected between said member and said moistener body to cause the body to move towards and away from the moistener roller once during each revolution of the master cylinder, and a supporting roller 00- operating with the moistening roller for passage of the copy sheets therebetween.

RONALD MAX FORD. DENIS PERCY CRANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,161,554 Benello June 6, 1939 2,171,061 Ford Aug. 29, 1939 2,172,113 Storck et a1. Sept. 5, 1939 2,215,495 Berman Sept. 24, 1940 2,234,973 Marchev Mar. 18, 1941 2,465,160 Levenhagen et a1. Mar. 22, 1949 2,510,256 Robinson et a1. June 6, 1950 

